Raises on Tap for Aldermen

— One of the final decisions the current City Council could make is whether to increase the amount aldermen are paid for their civic service.

According to Missy Leflar, Fayetteville human resources director, council members have received $700 per month — or $8,400 per year — since 1999.

Meeting Information

Fayetteville City Council

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain St.

On The Agenda: An ordinance to increase pay for Fayetteville aldermen

The City Council’s three outgoing aldermen — Brenda Boudreaux, Bobby Ferrell and Sarah Lewis — want to see that policy changed after they leave office.

An ordinance co-sponsored by Boudreaux, Ferrell and Lewis would increase aldermen’s pay to $1,042 per month — or $12,504 per year. The proposed increase is based on how much the mayor’s annual salary has gone up on average during the past 13 years.

“Fayetteville council members work very hard,” Lewis said. “We have a very active citizenry, and there’s a lot of expectations. This is really recognizing that.”

Lewis estimated she devotes about 20 hours a week to council work.

Aside from weekly council meetings and agenda review sessions, each aldermen serves on two council committees. Many serve as council liaisons to various volunteer boards, including the Fayetteville Active Transportation Advisory Committee and Environmental Action Committee. Others represent the council on groups such as the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. Those commitments don’t take into account time aldermen spend attending public functions, responding to calls and email from constituents and communicating with city staff.

“That, to me, is a lot of where the time goes,” Lewis said.

Lewis said aldermen’s compensation didn’t factor into her decision to run for council four years ago.

But, she added, the money helps make up for time aldermen often have to spend away from their full-time jobs.

“You don’t want the people who are eligible to be aldermen only to be people who can afford to be away from work,” said Don Marr, Mayor Lioneld Jordan’s chief of staff.

Fayetteville aldermen are the third highest paid officials of 35 city councils in Washington and Benton counties, according to a March study by Fayetteville staff. Springdale aldermen receive $850 per month, Rogers aldermen receive $715 per month and Bentonville aldermen receive $486 per month, according to that report.

Fayetteville aldermen earlier this month budgeted for average 2 percent raises for all full-time and hourly city employees. The council is likely to approve an additional 2 percent salary increase this spring when the books are closed on 2012.

Jordan, a former Ward 4 alderman, said Tuesday council raises are “long overdue.”

Paul Becker, Fayetteville finance director, said money is available in the city’s general fund to pay for the raises.

Council members will consider the proposal at their Dec. 18 meeting, which is also the final meeting Boudreaux, Ferrell and Lewis will be a part of as sitting aldermen.

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